16. Alistair #2
The priest snorted. “So you claim. But does it not strike you, Sir Alistair, as an incredible coincidence that a necromancer arrives at our doorstep precisely the same instant as another grave threat? Now, I do not dispute what you saw. I believe you when you say you were attacked. Yet, you cannot know for certain from whence this creature came. Is it not possible that this necromancer’s duskflame created the very menace you faced? ”
Alistair began shaking his head before Kelvin had even finished speaking. “He couldn’t have. It attacked his own tower, threatened both our lives. A good chunk of his undead perished defending us from the abomination.”
“And yet, you both escaped miraculously unharmed.” Kelvin spread his hands as if to say, There, you see? “This could all be a clever ruse designed to gain your trust.” His lips quirked in a rough facsimile of a smile. “One that appears to be succeeding.”
Alistair tensed at the priest’s suggestion even as shame flooded him at his inability to protest. What was he supposed to say—I know I can trust Iggie because of the intimate moments we’ve shared?
Confessing how close they’d grown or what he knew of Iggie’s past would only serve to further weaken his already damaged credibility. So instead, he said nothing.
A tense silence hung in the air until Erys finally broke it, shaking his head with a light chuckle. “Forgive me, Brother Kelvin, but I’m afraid your expertise in matters of the Light is not so easily extended to the mysteries of the Shroud.”
Kelvin flushed, shooting Erys a hateful look that the mage didn’t seem to notice.
“Speak plainly, Erys,” Liliana snapped. “What do you mean?”
“Why, simply that I believe Iggie’s innocence in the matter of our missing villagers.”
“Really?” Kelvin said, recovering his composure. “Do explain. I am eager to learn more of these so-called mysteries of the Shroud.”
“Well for one, the creature the good Knight described sounds far more in line with a monstrosity conjured via either runeflame or its corrupted counterpart voidflame than it does with an undead created by duskflame. The tentacles alone are a dead giveaway, as is the azure light.”
Alistair muffled his surprise. He and Iggie had reached a similar conclusion. Did that mean Erys wasn’t responsible? Surely, if he were involved, he wouldn’t willingly implicate himself.
Liliana rolled her eyes. “The paladin barely glimpsed the creature while fighting within a blizzard. Those are hardly the ideal conditions to make an accurate visual assessment.”
“Fair point, Mistress Liliana.” Erys’ face wrinkled in a placid smile. “However, that is not all we have to inform our discussion of the creature’s origins.” He focused his too-discerning gaze on Alistair. “You said your dawnflame had no effect on the abomination, correct?”
Alistair gave an uncertain nod, still struggling to get a read on the enigmatic mage. “It shrugged off every blow of both steel and magic as if they were nothing.”
Condescension bled into Kelvin’s tone. “Forgive me, Master Erys, but are you professing to be an expert on dawnflame now, too?”
“Oh, not at all, Brother Kelvin,” Erys replied, his voice cheerful. “But am I not mistaken that dawnflame is generally anathema to undead? By my recollection, the barest touch is enough to ignite lesser undead, and even the most powerful weaken at its touch.”
Kelvin’s lips pinched together as if he’d swallowed something sour.
“Far be it from me to question our resident mage,” he said after a moment’s hesitation, a hint of sarcasm entering his tone.
“But assuming you’re correct, that leaves us with a conundrum—namely what is this monster we face and how can we stop it? ”
Alistair nodded, relieved to be back on comfortable footing. “Indeed. I take it none of you have seen or heard of such a beast in these mountains before?”
The four elders all shook their heads. Alistair had expected as much. Still, a wave of exhaustion washed over him as he considered the monumental task that lay ahead.
Something of his tiredness must’ve shown on his face because Erys tsked sympathetically. “You look dead on your feet, Sir Alistair. We can continue this discussion once you’ve gotten some proper rest.”
“There’s no time for coddling,” Liliana said. “If something’s out there threatening our town, then we need to get to the bottom of it!”
“And we will,” Erys assured her. “I’ll meet with Sir Alistair bright and early tomorrow morning so we can discuss this creature he saw in more detail. Perhaps together, we can come up with something more concrete.”
Alistair opened his mouth to protest, then promptly shut it to muffle a yawn.
Perhaps Erys had a point. As eager as Alistair was to complete his mission, he wouldn’t be much use to anyone if he collapsed on his feet.
While his and Iggie’s…exertions last night had been enjoyable, they hadn’t exactly been conducive for much actual sleep, and the trek back had taken a lot out of his dawnflame reserves.
He could use a chance to rest and meditate.
“I assume your previous accommodations are acceptable?” Erys asked.
Alistair started to nod, then hesitated and glanced back at Iggie. “What of Ignatius?”
“We have a cell that would suit him just fine,” Liliana grumbled.
Erys chuckled. “Now, now, we’re not that hard up for space. I’m sure we can arrange a separate room for him next to yours.”
“Thank you.” Despite his growing weariness and the tension lingering in the air, Alistair forced himself to bow to each of the elders. “I know this is not the news you wanted, but I swear I will do whatever it takes to see this matter resolved. On my honor as a paladin of the Order.”
Liliana harrumphed at that, rising and stalking from the chamber without a backward glance. Maxwell followed only a hair slower with a muttered farewell, clearly anxious to escape his mayoral duties. Erys trailed after the pair at a more relaxed pace.
“I look forward to our chat tomorrow,” the mage said brightly as he passed them. “I think it will be most illuminating!”
Then, he was gone, leaving only Alistair, Iggie, and Brother Kelvin. The priest stayed seated, his gaze fixed on the pair of them. Alistair cleared his throat and offered another awkward bow.
“Good day to you, Brother Kelvin. I’m sure we’ll speak again soon.”
He turned to leave, Iggie silently trailing after him, when Kelvin called, “Wait, Sir Alistair. If you could spare a minute, I wish to speak with you before you depart.” He shot a pointed look at Iggie. “In private.”
As much as Alistair wanted to decline, Church edict demanded he respect the priest’s wishes. Besides, Brother Kelvin could make their lives here exceedingly difficult, not to mention the danger he posed to Alistair’s tenuous position in the Order if he decided to make waves.
“I’ll meet you back at our rooms,” he said to Iggie. “Just ask someone for directions to the inn, and they’ll tell you where to go.”
Iggie’s face paled even more than usual, and regret squeezed Alistair’s chest for leaving him alone. Alistair could only imagine how out of place Iggie already felt here, especially given the council’s less-than-enthusiastic welcome.
Despite his concern, however, Alistair strove to keep his face carefully neutral. He’d given away too much already. The less he revealed of their relationship to Kelvin, the better. After a moment, Iggie jerked a nod and trudged from the chamber without a backward glance.
Guilt tugging at him, Alistair waited for Kelvin to speak. When the priest simply studied him with an appraising gaze, Alistair’s patience frayed. “What did you want, Brother Kelvin? Not to be rude, but I’m eager to rest.”